Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

OTBT · Aug 8, 2010

Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

Legally in the US, it seems pretty pointless at this time to try to argue that the
Sea Org is not a Religious Order. The US Government, US Immigration, and the
IRS generally seem to accept that the Sea Org is a Religious Order.

However, Scientology tries to claim that ALL staff members of Class V Orgs and
ALL staff of Missions are also members of a Religious Order.

Excerpt from the Org and Mission staff contract:

http://www.exposescientology.com/contracts/cos-staff-contract-1996.pdf

I FURTHER UNDERSTAND THAT ALL CHURCH STAFF MEMBERS INCLUDING
MYSELF ARE MEMBERS OF A RELIGIOUS ORDER; THAT THEY SERVE PURSUANT TO
THEIR RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS AND NOT IN CONTEMPLATION OF RECEIVING
ANY COMPENSATION WHATSOEVER, AND IN DOING SO THAT THEY ARE
FORSAKING ALL COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL MOTIVATION.
PLEASE INITIAL_________

EACH CONSIDERS HIMSELF/HERSELF A VOLUNTEER TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD
AND UNDERSTANDS THAT HE/SHE IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE, I.E. IS NOT ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE SECULAR BENEFITS SUCH AS A MINIMUM WAGE OR OVERTIME
COMPENSATION.
PLEASE INITIAL________

Basically, Scientology claims that ALL staff members (not just Sea Org) are
members of a Religious Order, and are therefore exempt from US Minimum
Wage laws, as well as exempt from all Federal and State labor laws.

So, wanted to try something new. This thread is meant to be a document dump,
or repository, for any and all documents and links for the topic of “Religious
Order”. Please feel free to add to this list. It’s meant to be kinda like a library,
where anyone can pick and choose dox for research.

Please note, for the time being, I am concentrating on NON Sea Org staff. While
some scientology docs posted here will boast that Sea Org members are part of
a Religious Order, this thread is primarily intended to provide documents that
help prove that NON Sea Org staff (Class V Org staff and Mission staff) are
not members of a Religious Order.

Suggested general format for posting dox on this thread is 3 or 4 parts per
document:
1 – Title or basic explanatory info
2 – URL
3 – Relevant excerpt(s) from the doc
4 – Your comments or notes regarding the document

There are 4 main types of docs to start out with:
- Scientology docs and claims
- IRS and US government docs
- Foreign docs (mostly Aussie and UK)
- Assorted Non-Scientology and Non-government docs

OK, starting off with scilon docs and claims…

OTBT · Aug 8, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

Scientology Dox and Claims

Bylaws of a Scientology organization

http://www.xenufrance.net/bylaws-of-a-scientology-organization-1989.pdf

BYLAWS OF CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF GEORGIA

(A Nonprofit Religious Corporation
formed and operated pursuant to the
laws of the State of Georgia.)
...

Section 3*_____ Religious Orders. The Church may
establish and maintain religious orders, the purposes of which
shall be the carrying out of the religious and administrative
activities of this Church and corporation. The specific
functions and duties of each religious orders, and of the
members of such orders, shall be as determined and assigned by
the Board of Directors in accordance with the Scriptures, and
consistent with the purposes for religious orders herein stated.

Acceptance of persons into the religious orders
of the Church shall be governed by the applicable
Scriptures. Persons seeking acceptance into a religious
order of this Church shall enter into a covenant expressing
the individual's desire and intent to devote himself to
accomplish the goals and purposes of this Church and the
Religion of Scientology. All members of the religious order
shall agree to abide by the policies of this Corporation*
the Scriptures, the Articles, and these Bylaws.
...

Section 6. Discretion of Directors. Pursuant to the
Scriptures, particularly the ethics and justice system of
Scientology, membership in a Religious Order, ordination, or
affiliation may be denied or revoked for cause deemed to be
sufficient by the Directors in their sole discretion.

=============================================

Almost the same as above ^ ^ ^ but for Scientology International, and not just for CofS Georgia

Gerry Armstrong--Revised Bylaws of Church of Scientology International

REVISED BYLAWS OF CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

=============================================

Almost the same as above ^ ^ ^ but this is the leaked Scientology “Tax Compliance Manual”. Additional info to above is excerpted here

TaxComplianceManual.pdf

All individuals in the Sea Organization are employees of the local
organization in which they work. The Sea Org is a religious order
within the ecclesiastical structure of SCIENTOLOGY but is not an
incorporated organization itself and has no staff or employees. The Sea
Org contract is binding ecclesiastically but is not an employment
contract. All Sea Org members sign standard employment contracts with
the corporation at which they are currently working. If they are
transferred to another organization, they will sign a new employment
contract with that corporation for their period of employment.

All contracted staff at Class V churches and missions are employees of
the organization at which they work, whether the contract is for 2 1/2
years or 5 years.

Anyone working part-time at any type of SCIENTOLOGY organization, not on
any long-term contract, is usually an employee as well, because they
operate on the same basis as contracted staff, in that the employer
provides the place of work and tools and can control the method and
result of the services. A Mission Holder is an employee of the mission.

/ Note, the bylaws excerpted at the very beginning of this thread are taken from this “Tax Compliance Manual”. This “Tax Compliance Manual” is supposed to be secret and confidential, whereas the “bylaws” excerpted earlier are not secret or confidential.

=============================================

1996 Class V Org and Mission staff contract (this is the current contract, as far as I know)

http://www.exposescientology.com/contracts/cos-staff-contract-1996.pdf

Application, Declaration and General Release
Declaration of Religious Commitment
and Application for membership in a Scientology Religious Order
and for Active Participation on Church Staff
...

I FURTHER UNDERSTAND THAT ALL CHURCH STAFF MEMBERS INCLUDING
MYSELF ARE MEMBERS OF A RELIGIOUS ORDER; THAT THEY SERVE PURSUANT TO
THEIR RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS AND NOT IN CONTEMPLATION OF RECEIVING
ANY COMPENSATION WHATSOEVER, AND IN DOING SO THAT THEY ARE
FORSAKING ALL COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL MOTIVATION.
PLEASE INITIAL_________

EACH CONSIDERS HIMSELF/HERSELF A VOLUNTEER TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD
AND UNDERSTANDS THAT HE/SHE IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE, I.E. IS NOT ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE SECULAR BENEFITS SUCH AS A MINIMUM WAGE OR OVERTIME
COMPENSATION.
PLEASE INITIAL________
...

B. I HEREBY RELEASE AND DISCHARGE THE RELEASEES from all actions, claims or demands I,
my heirs, distributees, guardians, legal representatives or assigns ever had, now have or may
hereafter have for injury or damage resulting from or any way connected with my membership in
the Scientology Religious Order, active participation on Church staff or association with the
Releasees.

C. I FURTHER AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND SAVE AND HOLD HARMLESS THE RELEASEES and
each of them from any loss, inability damage or cost, including but not limited to attorneys' fees
they may incur, whether caused by the negligence of the Releasees or otherwise as a result of (a)
my breach of any covenants contain herein ; (b) my breach of the fiduciary duties owed to the
Church and/or the Releasees; (c) my activity within the Church or my conduct in the community
at large with regard to the Church and/or the Releasees whether or not such activity or conduct
is pursuant to this Application, Declaration and General Release; (d ) any statements made by me
herein, which are now false or which hereafter become false; and or (e) my membership in the
Scientology Religious Order, my active participation on Church staff or my association with
Releasees.

/ Note, you can see the contract differentiates between being a staff member, and membership in a Religious Order. What is the legal distinction between the two?

=============================================

SCILON web page
Code:
http://faq.scientology.org/ref_5.htm
Q - Are Church staff members kept isolated in a commune, unable to speak to friends or family?

A - Not at all. Most staff commute to work, much like any other job.

Members of Scientology’s religious order, the Sea Organization, do live communally in church-provided accommodations and their food, clothing and medical costs are paid for. Like any other Church staff, they regularly spend time with family and friends. (See: "What is the Sea Organization?")

/ Note, the Sea Org is called “Scientology’s religious order”. What about non SO staff?

=============================================

SCILON web page
Code:
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/finsbury/124/last.htm
The Scientologists most dedicated to their religion -- members of the Sea Organization -- live a communal lifestyle, take care of each other's daily and economic needs such as food, lodging and medical needs, wear distinctive uniforms, live by their particular customs, and devote almost all of their working hours to the service of their religion. The Church of Scientology with all its functions is clearly a "way of life" for people serving in its religious order.

/ Note, the Sea Org is called “Scientology’s religious order”. What about non SO staff?

=============================================

Info copied from scilon web pages

Scientology: Follow the Money

The following is a breakdown of the Church of Scientology International and some of it's various front organizations. All of this information is from the WWW pages at http://www.theta.com/goodman/.

...

Sea Organization (or Sea Org)
- Religious order distinct from the various Scientology church organizations.

=============================================

SCILON web page
Code:
http://scientologist.blogspot.com/2010/04/david-miscavige-chairman-of-board.html
Born in 1960, David Miscavige has been a Scientologist for most of his life and is still remembered as the 12-year-old prodigy who served as the youngest professional auditor at Saint Hill’s famed Hubbard Guidance Center in England.

He is further remembered for the fact that barely a year after entering the Scientology religious order, the Sea Organization, at the age of 16, he was among a handful of people selected to work directly with L. Ron Hubbard. After personal instruction from Mr. Hubbard, the 17-year-old David Miscavige served as his Director of Photography for the first Scientology training films.

/ Note, the Sea Org is called “the Scientology religious order”. What about non SO staff?

=============================================

Scilon statement to the press

Church of Scientology statement - TODAYshow.com

The Church of Scientology issued this statement to the TODAY show on Jan. 14, 2008 in advance of author Andrew Morton's appearance on the show today. We have reprinted the text of the 15-page statement in its entirety.
...

The ecclesiastical order of the Church of Scientology is called the Sea Organization. It is analogous to the priesthood of the Catholic Church and comprises only 20 thousand people, compared to millions of Scientologists. Although members of the Church’s religious order do not take vows of chastity, pre-marital sex is prohibited.

Neither Tom nor Katie are members of the Church’s religious order. They are parishioners.

/ Note, are the 20,000 people supposed to be all Sea Org members, are Sea Org and NON Sea Org staff members combined? Is premarital sex prohibited for NON Sea Org staff, or only for Sea Org members?

=============================================

Bridge statement in IRS filing

http://www.antisectes.net/bridge-1023.pdf

Bridge's Staff Personnel

Bridge is a "Sea Org" organization, which means its staff
members belong to the Scientology religious order, the Sea
Organization (or the "Sea Org") . To become members of the Sea Org,
Bridge's staff members must pledge the next billion years of their
existence to the Scientology religion.

/ Note, Sea Org is called “the Scientology religious order”. What about non SO staff?

=============================================

Church of Scientology International and Religious Technology
Center Win in Court Against Former Member (scilon press release)

http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/04/03/3831984/0_CSINewsRelease.pdf

In the ruling granting summary judgment dismissing the wage and hour
claims, Judge Dale Fischer today agreed with the Church of Scientology that the
members of its religious order, known as the Sea Organization, which is
comprised of the Church’s most dedicated members, are not subject to labor
laws.

/ Note, again, the Sea Org is mentioned by Scientology as “its” Religious Order. What about non SO staff? The press release continues:
…

Because the plaintiff chose to join a religious institution under her Church's
doctrine, her work was not subject to the payment of wages, the Court stated.
Judge Fischer specifically found that the plaintiff "was employed by a religious
institution," that is, Church of Scientology International and Religious
Technology Center, "was chosen for her position based largely on religious
criteria," and "performed religious duties and responsibilities." The Court stated
that like members of other religious orders, the plaintiff was only able to hold
these positions based on her commitment to Scientology.

/ Note, scientology is trying to lump together Sea Org staff and NON Sea Org staff in the court ruling. That is incorrect. Sea Org staff and NON Sea Org staff are totally different.

=============================================

Scientology Missions International glossary
Code:
http://www.smi.org/features/glossary/
Sea Organization:

A religious order that is distinct from the various Scientology Church organizations, though Sea Org members are responsible to the particular Church corporation for which they work. Unlike other Scientology staff, each member of the Sea Org signs a pledge of eternal service to Scientology and its goals — and thus members of this religious order form the dedicated core of the religion. The Sea Organization derives its name from its earliest beginnings in 1967 when L. Ron Hubbard, having retired from his position as Executive Director International, set to sea with a handful of veteran Scientologists to continue his research into the upper levels of spiritual awareness and ability. Although the majority of Sea Org members are now located on land, in keeping with the tradition of the beginnings of the Sea Org, they still wear maritime uniforms and have ranks and ratings. Commitment to the Sea Org is a sign of devotion to the religion and its objectives of spiritual salvation.

/ Note, ok, so the Sea Org is distinct from the various Scientology Church organizations. How does this justify claiming NON SO staff as members of a Religious Order?

=============================================

This "expert testimony" from a while ago ago is in regards to the Headley's law suits.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20100308/scientology/docs/Dec_Flinn.pdf

a. Communal Life
37. Members of the Sea Organization share a communal life. They berth
together in small groups or as married couples. They share common meals.
Together they do training and auditing, the central sacraments of Scientology, to
advance up the Bridge to Total Freedom. They study the Scientology scriptures and
rules of the Sea Organization together. They hold and attend ceremonial
celebrations together. They wear a common uniform. They also take recreation
together as a group. All of these type of religious activities Scientology shares with
members of religious orders around the world. This spiritual communal life allows
the Sea Organization to fulfill its high religious mission, the preservation and
transmission of the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard and the careful and exact
preservation and delivery of the training and auditing technology.
...

Indeed, in
Scientology, Sea Org members, because of their greater commitment to the aims and
goals of the religion, have historically been expected to live a more abstemious life
than ordinary members. Some Christian religious orders, generally known as
"monks" like the Benedictines and Cistercians, take vows of personal poverty, while
the monastery may own buildings for prayer, study and worship and lands for
tilling. Other religious orders, generally known as "friars" such as the Franciscans
and Dominicans, take vows of absolute poverty, that is, they are not allowed to own
anything as individuals or as a group in imitation of Jesus who possessed nothing.
Friars have only the use of property; the real owner is the papacy. A Trappist monk
lives in a bare cell, sleeps on a straw mattress with bare boards underneath, and
possesses two habits and a set of work clothes.

/ Note, while the scilon shill Frank Flinn is busy testifying that the Sea Org is a legitimate Religious Order, it gives lots of evidence that NON Sea Org staff are NOT members of a Religious Order.

Class V Org staff and Mission staff
- do not share a communal life
- do not berth together
- do not share common meals
- do not wear a common uniform
- do not take recreation together as a group
- do not take vows of poverty

=============================================

From the Scientology Religion Blog
Code:
http://scientology.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-is-sea-organization.html
What is the Sea Organization?

The Sea Organization is a religious order within the Scientology religion. A religious order is a subdivision of a larger religious group. In Christianity religious orders often take special vows, such as for poverty and obedience. This is not the case in the Sea Org. The only "vow" as such is a lifelong commitment to work in the service of the Scientology religion and its goals.

/ Note, ok, so please explain how NON Sea Org staff are supposedly members of a religious order.

=============================================

Religious Freedom Watch, of all places, discusses the Sea Org as as the religious order of scientology, as opposed to "volunteer staff".
Code:
http://www.RFW.lol (url intentionally broken to not inflate their pagerank)/media-newsroom/don-jason/
Don Jason is an apostate who left his position as volunteer staff in 1996 quite suddenly, before it could be discovered that he had been stealing from his wife and his church.

Jason revealed these facts himself, several months later, when Church officials offered him a chance to come clean about his transgressions and still remain a Scientologist. In a public statement, Jason revealed for the first time that he had a long history of criminality, dating back to before he became a Scientologist. He admitted that he intentionally withheld that part of his personal history from fellow Church members, because he knew it would disqualify him for admission into the Church’s religious order, The Sea Organization, which demands a very high level of ethical conduct.

Recently, Jason has taken to fabricating lies about his former religion, apparently as part of yet another unethical money-making scheme.

But the following excerpts from his 1997 public statement make it clear that Don Jason is a life-long thief, who is no more trustworthy now than he was when he was a teenager who robbed bars.

This is Don Jason, in his own words:

“In the years prior to my Scientology involvement I was addicted to drugs. I regularly stole and cheated others to support this habit to the point where these dishonest acts became a way of life. In fact, I robbed a number of bars when I was a teenager….

“My sister and brother-in-law – - Scientologists, worked to help me get off drugs and to change my way of life.

“Although I had many improvements with the Scientology I did apply, I continued to commit various criminal acts.

“I knew that this philosophy could save me from certain death as a drug addict and criminal.

“I heard of the religious order called the Sea Org and that its members maintained a higher ethics level, higher than any other and I joined this organization.

“I withheld my background from the Sea Org as this would have disqualified me from employment.

/ NOTE, so, how can "volunteer staff" be members of a religious order?

OTBT · Aug 8, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

IRS and US government docs

Here is the link to full text of of the current IRS guidelines for determining if an organization is a Religious Order.

The IRS document title is Rev. Proc. 91-20, 1991-1 C.B. 524

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/rp_1991-20.pdf

===============================================

IRS 1979 discussion of Religious Orders. They also discuss "cults".

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicf79.pdf

===============================================

IRS discussion including Religious Orders, vow of poverty, and incidental wages.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/topicc02.pdf

===============================================

US Immigration denial for importing a foreign NON-Sea Org staff member into the US. Scientology tried
to use a Religious Worker (R-1) visa, but was denied in 2005

http://www.exposescientology.com/visadox/051123_NOV232005_02C1101.pdf

Regarding the Sea Organization, [redacted] states that the beneficiary "is not now and has never
been a member of the Sea Organization."

While the AAO has found that members of the
Sea Organization undertake a religious vocation,
there has been no finding that every Church of
Scientology staff member works in a religious
vocation or belongs to a religious order.
It cannot suffice simply for a church to declare
that all of its workers belong to a religious order.

While the determination of an individual's status or duties within a religious organization is not under the
purview of Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), the determination as to the individual’s qualifications to
receive benefits under the immigration laws of the United States rests within CIS. Authority over the latter
determination lies not with any ecclesiastical body but with the secular authorities of the United States. Matter
of Hall, 18 I&N Dec. 203 (BIA 1982); Matter of Rhee, 16 I&N Dec. 607 (BIA 1978).

OTBT · Aug 8, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

Foreign docs (mostly Aussie and UK)

Australia Taxation Ruling

http://www.sds.asn.au/assets/Docume...- Exemptions for 'religious institutions'.pdf

14. In determining whether a person is a member of a religious order, it is necessary to consider what constitutes a religious
order. In a religious order, many, if not all, of the following characteristics will be present:

(a) members generally are separated from secular society to pursue the religious life on a full-time basis
and normally live together as part of a community;

(b) members participate regularly in activities such as private and public prayer, religious study,
teaching, care of the aged, missionary work or church reform;

(c) the order is related to a particular religious institution and generally is directly or indirectly under the
control and supervision of, or is funded, either partially or wholly, by that body;

(d) members renounce in principle any possession of property and they live under a strict set of rules
requiring moral and spiritual self-sacrifice and dedication to the goals of the organisation at the
expense of their material well-being;

(e) members of the order make a long-term commitment to the order.

========================================

UK Immigration instructions for refusing Scientologists as ministers

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/s...schapter5/06section6/section6.pdf?view=Binary

CHAPTER 5 MINISTERS OF RELIGION,
SECTION 6 MISSIONARIES AND MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS

1. INTRODUCTION

Paragraphs 170 & 171 of HC 395 provide for the admission of ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders coming to work full-time as such. These terms are intended to apply to full-time religious workers of all faiths, including those who have no formally ordained ministry. Although all 3 kinds of workers are given the same conditions they are separate categories to which different requirements apply (see ANNEX Q).

Entry clearance is mandatory for this category.

Please note: Some organisations with the title "church", including the Church of Scientology and the Unification Church ("Moonies") are not accepted as religions for the purposes of the Immigration Rules and their members should not be treated as ministers of religion or missionaries (see ANNEX U "Religious Organisations/Groups").

========================================

Relevant section quoted below from the 428 page UK Home Office Judicial Review of Scientology in 2003, 15 MB PDF:

http://files.whatdotheyknow.com/req...Y - JUDICIAL REVIEW FCU-03-0001-0029-003.pdf

Note on the Government's approach to Scientology

INO

INO does not recognise Scientology as a religion for the purposes of
Immigration Rules. In practice this means that there is no prohibition on
Scientologists entering the UK in one capacity or another under the Rules e.g.
as a student or visitor and following the doctrines of their belief whilst here. But
persons connected with the organisation are not recognised as "ministers of
religion" and do not therefore qualify for admission under the specific category
of the Rules that enables such persons to enter for permit-free employment as
ministers of religion, missionaries or members of a religious order.

This has been INO's position for quite some time and derives from the 1970
Court of Appeal judgement in ex parte Segerdal that held that scientology
chapels did not constitute places of religious worship under the Places of
Worship Registration Act 1955. This was because the ceremonies carried out in
the building were focused not on prayer to a Supreme Being but on instruction
in a philosophy concerned with man.

INO have also taken note of the more recent decision of the Charity
Commissioners not to grant charitable status on the grounds that they did not
agree that Scientology had been established "for the advancement of religion".

=========================================

UK Government e-mails, heavily redacted. Typos are in the original.

http://files.whatdotheyknow.com/req...ES - SCIENTOLOGY - LAB 99-0034-0064-042-A.pdf

RE: scientology
05 November 1999 16:07

As I understand it, scientologists can be admitted to the UK where they meet the requirements of the
Immigration Kules applicable to their circumstances e.g. as visitors, work permit holders etc. But they cannot
qualify for entry clearance as ministers of religion,missionaries or members of religious orders. I will sperately
forward to you an earlier e- mail I sent to, {redacted} which says a bit more about the background to our
position.

... another e-mail from the same document

You asked for some background on the position of scientologists under the Immigration Rules.
The policy is as set out by the then Home Secretary in 1980. Scientology is not regarded as a religion
for the purposes of the Immigration Rules. Scientologists will not therefore qualify under the provisions of the
Immigration Rules relating to Ministers of Religion, missionaries or members of religious orders. There is no
legal or official definition of a religion in this country . But scientology is not regarded as a church in Britain.
This follow a ruling in 1969/70 by the Court of Appeal that scientology "chapels" did not qualify as places of
worship under the Places of Worship Registration Act because the ceremonies carried on in the building were
focussed not on prayer to a Supreme Being, but on instruction in a philosophy concerned with man. From this
has flowed the Home Office's general line that we do not regard scientology as a religion. I hope this is
helpful. Please let me know if you require anything further.

=========================================

SCILON web page
Code:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/scientol3.htm
In recent years, authorities in the United Kingdom have issued similar decrees. The Ministry of Defence, specifically the Royal Navy, recognized the Scientology religion as one of the faiths that sailors must be allowed to practice and provisions to do so made accordingly. In May 2001, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise granted churches of Scientology exemption from value added tax on the basis that they are religious organizations. That same year, England’s Internal Revenue decreed that employees of the Church who are part of its religious order are not subject to the ordinary wage laws but must be treated in alignment with the rules for religious institutions. In fact, a near-identical determination was made by Germany’s Federal Labor Court in October 2002 which stated explicitly that the staff members of Scientology churches are "seeking idealistic purposes and [their] own spiritual perfection through the teachings of Scientology."

/ Note, so, what about employees of the Church who are NOT part of its religious order?

OTBT · Aug 8, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

Assorted Non-Scientology and Non-government docs

From Indiana Law Journal

http://www.law.indiana.edu/ilj/volumes/v75/no1/idleman.pdf

Thus, in that case, even though the plaintiffs “may have submitted voluntarily to the
unreviewable discipline” of a religious order, their affiliation with the religious order
“did not amount to a waiver of secular rights to which their status as clerics was
incidental at best.”

============================================

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Churches - Definition - By Richard R. Hammar, J.D., LL.M., CPA

The IRS has issued guidance on the definition of the term "religious order."

The IRS has issued guidance on the definition of the term "religious order." The Internal Revenue
Code exempts from self-employment taxes, FICA taxes, and federal income tax withholding,
compensation received for services performed by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties
required by the order. Neither the Code, nor the income tax regulations, defines the term "religious
order." To provide some certainty regarding the definition of a religious order, the IRS has published 7
characteristics that traditionally have been associated with religious orders. The IRS came up with this
list by reviewing the court decisions that have addressed the issue. From now on, the IRS will use the
following characteristics in determining whether or not an organization is a religious order:

(1) The organization is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code. (2) The members of the organization
vow to live under a strict set of rules requiring moral and spiritual self-sacrifice and dedication to the
goals of the organization at the expense of their material well-being. (3) The members of the
organization, after successful completion of the organization's training program and probationary period,
make a long-term commitment to the organization (normally, more than two years). (4) The organization
is, directly or indirectly, under the control and supervision of a church or convention or association of
churches, or is significantly funded by a church or convention or association of churches. (5) The
members of the organization normally live together as part of a community and are held to a significantly
stricter level of moral and religious discipline than that required of lay church members. (6) The members
of the organization work or serve full-time on behalf of the religious, educational, or charitable goals of the
organization, (7) The members of the organization participate regularly in activities such as public or
private prayer, religious study, teaching, care of the aging, missionary work, or church reform or renewal.

The IRS has stated that "generally, the presence of all the above characteristics is determinative that the
organization is a religious order" and that "the absence of one or more of the other enumerated
characteristics is not necessarily determinative in a particular case. Generally, if application of the above
characteristics to the facts of a particular case does not clearly indicate whether or not the organization
is a religious order, the [IRS] will contact the appropriate authorities affiliated with the organization for
their views concerning the characteristics of the organization and their views will be carefully
considered."

It is interesting that one of the cases the IRS
relied on involved a claim by a Baptist church that the
services of its church secretary, organist, custodian,
and choir director were exempt from tax withholding
since the church was a "religious order."

In rejecting the church's claim, the court defined a
"religious order" as "a religious body typically an
aggregate of separate communities living under a
distinctive rule, discipline or constitution; a monastic
brotherhood or society."

Under the new IRS
definition, there will be very few organizations that will be able to justify an exemption from FICA or tax
withholding on the ground that they are "religious orders." Organizations that currently are relying upon
an exemption from FICA coverage or the income tax withholding rules on the basis of "religious order"
status should carefully review the new IRS definition to assess its impact. The IRS has invited comments
on its definition of "religious order." Comments, or suggestions for additional factors to consider, may be
sent to the Internal Revenue Service, Assistant Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits and Exempt
Organizations), Attn: CC:EE:5, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Be sure
to refer to "Revenue Procedure 91-20." IRS Revenue Procedure 91-20.

====================================================

Provided by: Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

Comparison of Churches, Religious Orders, and Other Nonprofit Organizations - ECFA.org

Comparison of Churches, Religious Orders, and Other Nonprofit Organizations

Some of the key distinctions between churches, religious orders, and other nonprofit organizations are as follows:
...

Religious Orders

1. A religious order must meet certain characteristics drawn (see attached list).

2. A religious order is not required to file Form 1023 Application for Tax-Exempt Status.

3. A religious order is not required to file Form 990 under Section 6033(a)(2)(A)(iii).

4. Service performed by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by the order is
excluded from the definition of “employment” for social security tax purposes under Section 3121(b)(8), and for
federal unemployment tax purposes under Section 3309(b)(2).

5. Remuneration from such service is not subject to income tax withholding under Section 3401(a)(9).
...

=============================================

From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, a long, detailed analysis of tax exemption concerning
Catholic Religious Orders. Here is very beginning of it.

/ Note, the word "religious" appears as a noun throughout the record, and,
in that context, refers to members of a religious order, such as monks or
nuns. See Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English
Language 1628 (1996)

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

V. Compensation of Religious

Members of religious orders who provide services to a diocesan employer (defined here to include the
diocese and any affiliated entities that are listed in The Official Catholic Directory [OCD], i.e., the Kenedy
Directory) are subject to distinct tax and reporting rules, primarily as a result of their vows of poverty.

Employment Classification

Status as a member of a religious order does not automatically determine employment classification.
Rather, classification of a religious as an employee of a diocesan employer or as an independent contractor
should be made by applying the common law tests as interpreted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). (See
the section on "Compensation of Lay Employees of the Church.")

Taxation of Compensation

An individual religious is not "tax-exempt." Tax exemption applies, if at all, to the religious order qualifying
under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Further, status as a member of a religious order does
not automatically immunize from federal income and employment taxation the compensation paid to a religious who is performing services for a diocesan employer. Rather, the taxability of such compensation, including employee fringe benefits, if any, provided by the diocesan employer, is determined in accordance with the principles set forth in Revenue Ruling (Rev. Rul.) 77-290, 1977-2 C.B. 26.

============================================

ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF RELIGION

The Real Church of Scientology Scientologists' way of ritual and life styles

The Sea Organization (or Sea Org) is a special order which was founded in 1967 when Mr. Hubbard
decided to retire from his office as the Executive Director of the Church to concentrate on his literary work
onboard a ship. Those who then were first to follow him became the nuclear group of the newly established
religion. As time went on this group became a mythical model to be observed and respected as the core of the
most devout members of the Church. All members of the Sea Organization work full-time for the religion by
serving on staff of the higher level Churches. Evidence of their dedication is the contract of employment in the
Sea Organization "for the next billion years."

This kind of religious order in many respects reminds one of the circles of disciples who gathered around such
founders of world religions as Jesus or Muhammed or the monastic order of the monks around Prince Gautama when he became Buddha. It is a very specific manifestation of religious mythology and symbolism. As such it is one of the criteria upon which we base our conclusion that Scientology is a new religion.

It is typical for members of the Church's religious order that they together form a kind of extended family
devoting most of their time to their work for and in the Church, and at the same time taking care of each others' daily and economic needs, even their children. This kind of life style is so comprehensive that members of the Sea Organization usually establish families among themselves. The common sailor's uniform worn by the Sea Organization members is an important unifying factor on both emotional and social levels.

/ Note, while this shill is saying that all these characteristics are proof that Sea Org members are members of
a Religious Order, it pretty much shoots to hell the idea that NON Sea Org staff are members of a Religious
Order.

===========================================

Book - The law of tax-exempt organizations by Bruce R. Hopkins

The law of tax-exempt organizations - Google Books

§ 10.6 RELIGIOUS ORDERS

Another type of religious organization is the religious order, a term that is not defined
in the Internal Revenue Code or the tax regulations. The IRS promulgated guidelines
for determining whether an organization qualifies as a religious order, utilizing
a variety of characteristics drawn from the case law. These characteristics are as
follows:

- the organization is a charitable one;

- the members of the organization vow to live under a strict set of rules requiring moral and spiritual
self-sacrifice and dedication to the goals of the organization at the expense of their material well-being;

- the members of the organization, after successful completion of the organization's training program and
probationary period, make a long-term commitment to the organization (normally more than two years);

- the organization is, directly or indirectly, under the control and supervision of a church or convention or
association of churches, or is significantly funded by a church or convention or association of churches;

- the members of the organization normally live together as part of a community and are held to a significantly
stricter level of moral and religious discipline than that required by lay church members;

- the members of the organization work or serve full-time on behalf of the religious, educational, or charitable
goals of the organization;

- and the members of the organization participate regularly in activities such as public or private prayer,
religious study, teaching, care of the aging, missionary work, or church reform or renewal.

In determining whether an organization is a religious order, all of the facts and
circumstances must be considered. Generally, the presence of all of these characteristics
is determinative that the organization is a religious order; however, the absence
of the first of these characteristics is determinative that the organization is not a religious
order. The absence of one or more of the other enumerated characteristics is
not necessarily determinative in a particular case. If application of these characteristics
to the facts of a particular case does not clearly indicate whether the organization
is a religious order, the IRS's procedures call for it to contact the particular
authorities affiliated with the organization for their views concerning the characterization
of the organization, which views are to be "carefully considered."

=============================================

FACTnet article, Scientology/IRS secret tax compliance manual, part I

Scientology tax compliance I

More revelations are coming to light surrounding the formerly secret Closing Agreement between IRS and the current leaders of Scientology.

Public Research Foundation (PRF) has recently discovered that Scientology organizations are being governed in accordance with a closely-guarded "Tax Compliance Manual." That manual reveals previously unknown information about the new power structure of the organizations. The manual was created in 1993, the same year that the Closing Agreement was secretly signed by IRS and church officials. The Tax Compliance Manual is published by sanction of the Church of Spiritual Technology (CST)--the senior corporation which owns all the copyrights.

The manual is significant in many respects, not the least of which is a sweeping relocation of power that was once vested in Scientology's "Sea Organization" (Sea Org). The Sea Org was originally set up by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard to exercise supreme and absolute authority over all of Scientology. But buried in the language of the Tax Compliance Manual is clear evidence that the new corporations are in control now, that Sea Org members are merely employees of the corporations, and that Sea Org members can be summarily dismissed at the sole discretion of the Directors of the corporations. Although this massive shift of power has been in effect since at least 1993, it apparently has been fully known only by the architects of the corporations, and by the principals in the once-secret IRS/Scientology closing agreement.
...

The manual first establishes that:

"All individuals in the Sea Organization are employees of
the local organization (corporation) in which they work.
The Sea Org is a religious order within the
ecclesiastical structure of Scientology but is not an
incorporated organization itself and has no staff or
employees. The Sea Org contract is binding
ecclesiastically but is not an employment contract. All
Sea Org members sign standard employment contracts with
the corporation at which they are currently working. If
they are transferred to another organization, they will
sign a new employment contract with that corporation for
their period of employment."

Having established that the Sea Org is a religious order only, and that the "Sea Org Contract" is not binding legally (only 'ecclesiastically'), the manual then provides corporate Bylaws, part of which state:

"Section 3. Religious Orders. The Church may establish
and maintain religious orders, the purposes of which shall
be the carrying out of the religious and administrative
activities of this Church AND CORPORATION." (Emphasis added.)

Then the Tax Compliance Manual spells out where the final power and authority over the Sea Org lies:

"Section 6. Discretion of Directors.... (M)embership in a
Religious Order, ordination, or affiliation may be denied
or revoked for cause deemed to be sufficient by the
Directors in their sole discretion."

Given that corporate Directors (which would include "special directors," as they are not excluded in the wording) can terminate Sea Org membership at any time "in their sole discretion," and given that the only legally binding contract Sea Org members have is the employment contract with the corporation where they work, then the Sea Org--apart from its function as a religious fellowship--could be considered as little more than costumery for corporate employees.
...

/ Note, more info at the link above. Also, part 2 of the article is here:

Scientology tax compliance II

===================================================

This article was published in Gerhard Besier, et al, eds., Zeitdiagnosen: Religion and Conformity (Lit Verlag: Munster, Germany, 2004).

The Church of Scientology: In Pursuit of Legal Recognition - by Derek H. Davis

Tax Legislation for Churches

In recent years, authorities in the United Kingdom have issued similar decrees. The Ministry of Defence, specifically the Royal Navy, recognized the Scientology religion as one of the faiths that sailors must be allowed to practice and provisions to do so made accordingly. In May 2001, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise granted churches of Scientology exemption from value added tax on the basis that they are religious organizations. That same year, England’s Internal Revenue decreed that employees of the Church who are part of its religious order are not subject to the ordinary wage laws but must be treated in alignment with the rules for religious institutions. In fact, a near-identical determination was made by Germany’s Federal Labor Court in October 2002 which stated explicitly that the staff members of Scientology churches are "seeking idealistic purposes and [their] own spiritual perfection through the teachings of Scientology."

/ Note, so, what about employees of the Church who are NOT part of its religious order?

============================================

Tax Legislation for Churches - by Richard R. Hammar, J.D., LL.M., CPA

Tax Legislation for Churches

The Internal Revenue Code contains several references to the term church, but provides no
adequate definition. This is understandable, since a definition that is too narrow potentially interferes with
the constitutional guaranty of religious freedom, while a definition that is too broad will encourage abuses
in the name of religion. The United States Supreme Court has noted that “the great diversity in church
structure and organization among religious groups in this country . . . makes it impossible, as Congress
perceived, to lay down a single rule to govern all church-related organizations.” Nevertheless, the Code
contains some limited attempts to define churches and related organizations.

Prior to 1970, the income tax regulations specified that the term church included a religious order or
religious organization if such order or organization (a) is an integral part of a church, and (b) is engaged
in carrying out the functions of a church, whether as a civil law corporation or otherwise. In determining
whether a religious order or organization is an integral part of a church, consideration will be given to the
degree to which it is connected with, and controlled by, such church. A religious order or organization
shall be considered to be engaged in carrying out the functions of a church if its duties include the
ministration of sacerdotal functions and the conduct of religious worship. . . . What constitutes the
conduct of religious worship or the ministration of sacerdotal functions depends on the tenets and
practices of a particular religious body constituting a church.

============================================

Wikipedia definition of "Religious Order"

Religious order - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way
set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the
principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates (laity) and, in some
traditions, ordained clergies. Religious orders exist in many of the world's religions.

===============================================

Article by Frank Flinn, shill for scientology.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20100308/scientology/docs/SeaOrg_Flinn.pdf

The Sea Organization: The Religious Order of the Scientology Religion

The Sea Organization (commonly referred to as the Sea Org) is the
religious order for the Scientology religion and is composed of the most
dedicated Scientologists in the world—individuals who have devoted their lives in
voluntary service to their religion
...

Sea Organization members constitute the religious order of the Church of
Scientology. As Sea Organization members, these individuals dedicate their lives
to furthering the religious mission of Scientology and work in fulfilling their
spiritual vocation through the advancement of the religion in Scientology
Churches and organizations in 165 countries throughout the world.

/ Note, Use a dictionary and define the word "the" if you don't see the relevance. So from this, one can conclude that NON Sea Org staff are NOT members of a Religious Order, since the Sea Org is the Religious Order for scientology.

============================================

Another article by shill Frank Flinn

Church of Scientology and the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF)

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20100308/scientology/docs/RPF_Flinn.pdf

Church of Scientology and the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF)

Introduction

The Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) is a religious program undertaken
by a very small number of members of the Church of Scientology. Neither staff
members who work in local Churches of Scientology around the world nor the
Church's non-staff parishioners would qualify to undertake this program. Only
those who belong to the Sea Organization, the religious order of the Church of
Scientology, may do the RPF, and then only for specific reasons. The purpose of
the RPF is to provide a "second chance" to those who have failed to fulfill their
ecclesiastical responsibilities as members of the Sea Organization.
...

The RPF is based upon one of oldest and most fundamental concepts in
religion—a religious retreat in the form of a cloister focusing on intensive spiritual
introspection and study and balanced by some form of physical labor. This
practice is common to the religious orders of many other world religions in
addition to Scientology, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and the monastic
orders of the Roman Catholic Church.
...

Sea Organization members devote their lives to service of the Scientology
religion. Sea Organization members, like members of other religious orders, are
spiritually and not materially motivated. They work in Church organizations for a
small stipend and live in a religious community with housing, meals, clothing,
medical care, dental care and other necessities provided for by the Church. They
study the fundamentals of Scientology for a portion of each day and dedicate
themselves to whatever their assigned task may be in the furtherance of the
objectives of the religion. Their disciplined lifestyle in a religious order is
comparable to that of members of religious orders in many other world religions.
Sea Organization members comprise the ecclesiastical leadership of the Church
of Scientology.
...

The RPF was created in the 1970s at the request of Sea Organization members.
Again, this religious program is solely for this religious order; it is not
administered to other Church staff or parishioners.

/ Note, again, Flinn is trying to argue that the Sea Org is a Religious Order, but in doing so, pretty much shows that NON Sea Org staff are NOT members of a Religious Order

================================================

Declaration of Larry Brennan

http://www.freedomofmind.com/documents/declarationLaurenceHBrennan.pdf

8.
It was determined that the only way to handle many of the legal matters in front of us
and still apply Hubbard’s policies that had to do with staff, ethics, sales of services,
money, delivery of services and the like was to develop and use a religious cloaking
saying scientology was a religion, its services religious, its staff members of religious
orders and the like. I can state without doubt that the overwhelming main reason that
organized scientology developed and pushed its religious cloaking was to avoid a myriad
of real or potential legal problems that would exist by following Hubbard’s policies if it
were not considered a religion. By developing this religious cloaking for organized
scientology it was hoped to avoid legal requirements around the world that might
otherwise have to be followed that would make it impossible to follow Hubbard’s
policies. In developing the religious cloaking for organized scientology, the following
were considered a few of the “benefits” so that Hubbard policies could be applied. There
are countless examples but the below are listed simply as a few of them:

(i) minimum wages would not have to be paid;

(ii) staff could be sent to different parts of the world and be able to stay locally as
religious workers;

(iii) standard employee rights, such as those found in laws like the Fair Labor
Standards Act, could be discarded and thus Hubbard policies involving such
things as ethics conditions, the Rehabilitation Project Force and the like could
be applied without outside interference;

(iv) less scrutiny would be allowed on the controls of the funds of scientology and
the intermingling of funds between the corporations and other legal fictions of
organized scientology;

(v) it was hoped that the treatment of public scientologists and the use of their
funds would be considered outside the purview of governmental bodies;

(vi) couching the demand for and flow of monies within organized scientology
using “religious” terms (such as by saying that clear cut mandatory payments
for services were “fixed donations” and were mandated by the scripture of
“exchange”) was hoped to cut off attempts by governments and others to look
into them further;

(vii) what was considered one of the most important reasons for the religious
cloaking was so that the services of dianetics and scientology could be
delivered without it being considered the practice of psychology and/or
medicine. It was feared that unless there was a religious cloaking developed
and used throughout organized scientology that its practices would be
outlawed in many parts the world.

Anonymous · Aug 8, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

placeholder 5

themadhair · Aug 9, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

From HCOPL 29 Oct 1962, titled 'Religion':

Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization basis throughout the world. This will not upset in any way the usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors. I have evidently failed in designating HASI Ltd. As a non-profit corporation. Therefore other arrangements must be made, but these in no way shatter any organization or change its personal in the slightest.

Scan here:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7915/religionr.jpg

This P/L has been altered in later version of the green volumes.

OTBT · Aug 9, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

Tommy Davis gloating about the Headley's lawsuit

http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2010/PDFs/5Aug SPT re Headley.pdf

The two apostates were members of Scientology's religious order, the Sea
Organization, for over fifteen years. Four years after leaving the Church, they
sued claiming that they had beendeprived of monetary compensation and
subjected to church discipline and lifestyle constaints that are part of the
commitment of Scientology religious ministers. The District Court emphatically
rejected all such claims, holding that the First Amendment prohibits the state or
its courts from evaluating the religious life voluntarily undertaken by ministers
and members of religious orders, or determining the nature of the relationship
between a church and its ministers.

/ note: So if the Sea Org is Scientology's religious order, that logically means
that NON-Sea Org staff are NOT members of the Scientology religious order.

================================================================

Current scientology web site about David Miscavige
Code:
http://www.scientology.org/david-miscavige.html
L. RON HUBBARD'S TRUSTED FRIEND

Born in 1960, David Miscavige has been a Scientologist for most of his life and is
still remembered as the 12-year-old prodigy who served as the youngest
professional auditor at Saint Hill’s famed Hubbard Guidance Center in England.

He is further remembered for the fact that barely a year after entering the
Scientology religious order, the Sea Organization, at the age of 16, he was
among a handful of people selected to work directly with L. Ron Hubbard. After
personal instruction from Mr. Hubbard, the 17-year-old David Miscavige served
as his Director of Photography for the first Scientology training films.

/ note: again, if the the scientology religious order is the Sea Org, that logically
means that NON-Sea Org staff are NOT members of the Scientology religious order.

================================================================

Gloating by Freedom magazine, scilon pr rag
Code:
http://www.freedommag.org/freedom-news/csi-wins-labor-case-religiosity-confirmed.html
On April 2, 2010, the United States District Court granted a motion by the
Church of Scientology International ("CSI") and Religious Technology Center
("RTC") dismissing a claim for alleged violations of federal and state labor laws
based on the plaintiff’s years of religious service at CSI and RTC.

In the ruling granting summary judgment dismissing the wage and hour claims,
Judge Dale Fischer today agreed with the Church of Scientology that the
members of its religious order, known as the Sea Organization, which is
comprised of the Church’s most dedicated members, are not subject to labor
laws. Because the plaintiff chose to join a religious institution under her
Church’s doctrine, her work was not subject to the payment of wages, the
Court stated. Judge Fischer specifically found that the plaintiff "was employed
by a religious institution," that is, Church of Scientology International and
Religious Technology Center, "was chosen for her position based largely on
religious criteria," and "performed religious duties and responsibilities." The
Court stated that like members of other religious orders, the plaintiff was only
able to hold these positions based on her commitment to Scientology.

The plaintiff was a member of the Sea Organization from 1991 until 2005.
During her years in the Sea Organization, the plaintiff held many positions
within Scientology. Both CSI and RTC are recognized as churches by the IRS.
The Sea Organization is a religious order for the Scientology religion and is
composed of the most dedicated Scientologists in the world - individuals who
have committed their lives to the volunteer service of their religion. The first Sea
Organization members formulated the one-billion-year pledge to symbolize their
eternal commitment to the religion, still signed by all members today. As
volunteers and members of a religious order, Sea Organization members
work long hours and live communally with housing, meals, uniforms, medical
and dental care, transport and all expenses associated with their duties
provided by the Church. They also receive a small allowance to purchase
personal items, as all of their other expenses are fully covered by the
Church.

/ note: again, while loudly proclaiming that Sea Org are members of
Scientology's religious order, it makes clear that NON-Sea Org staff (Org staff
and Mission staff) are NOT members of a religious order.

NON-Sea Org staff do NOT live communally with housing, do NOT sign billion
year contacts, and do NOT get:

meals

uniforms

medical and dental care

transport

all expenses associated with their duties

OTBT · Aug 9, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

Scientology web page
Code:
http://www.scientologyreligion.org/pg005.html
On 8 October 1993, tens of thousands of Scientologists from all corners of the
globe gathered to hear Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious
Technology Center announce the historic news: the United States government
had just granted full religious recognition to the churches of Scientology, finding
them “organised exclusively for religious and charitable purposes.”

In recent years, authorities in the United Kingdom have issued similar decrees.
The Ministry of Defence has declared that Scientology is an official recognised
religion within the Royal Navy. Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise has granted
churches of Scientology exemption from value-added tax and classifies them as
religious organisations. The Internal Revenue decreed that members of the
Church’s religious order serve out of religious commitment rather than
financial reward.

/ note: Requesting this IRS doc mentioned above, I'd like to see it. Perhaps
it defines what the IRS considers to be Scientology's religious order. While
I am quite sure the IRS document mentioned above says that the Sea Org is
a religious order, I very much doubt that the IRS said that ALL Scientology
staff, including NON-Sea Org staff, are members of a religious order.

=======================================================

Scientology web page
Code:
http://www.approvedscientology.org/page016.htm
STAFF OF SCIENTOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS

Local churches and missions of Scientology are administered by Scientologists
who have dedicated themselves to full-time service to their religion. Staff duties
vary considerably, although all positions directly or indirectly support the
ministry of Scientology religious services to parishioners. Some staff are
responsible for maintenance, others for dissemination. Some serve executive
functions. Others directly offer the services of Scientology: the course
supervisors who minister Dianetics and Scientology training and the auditors
who provide religious counseling. These staff obviously are important to the
ministry of the religion, but they could not perform their responsibilities without
the support of all the other staff of the church. Clearly, all staff of a Scientology
church are dedicated individuals who hold their positions with a view toward
serving their fellow man.

/ note: no mention at all that Org and Mission staff (non-Sea Org staff) are
members of a religious order

Anonymous · Aug 9, 2010

Re: Scientology "Religious Order" Dox and Rebuttals

The secret history of scientology,an old leak,but worth putting here.
MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

Anonymous · Apr 20, 2011

Bump for Clearwater debate
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/thre...ltwatch-anniversary.79280/page-4#post-1483775

BLiP · Jun 14, 2013

Bump for J R Lewis

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